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Thanksgiving weekend in Downtown Staunton

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staunton downtown development associationThe Staunton Downtown Development Association Promotions Committee and downtown businesses have been preparing for the upcoming Thanksgiving weekend festivities since July.

That’s when the parade and window theme is chosen. This year, it is “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” to honor the 100th Anniversary of Veteran’s Day. The nostalgic holiday theme brings back memories of home and hometown.

All of the promotions are designed to engage the community in sentimental way to recreate happy childhood memories of Christmases past and celebrate Downtown’s historic feel. Store windows have been decorated and the holiday snowflakes are ready to greet our guests and create the festive atmosphere.

Holiday Gift Card Gift-With-Purchase

Beginning Friday, November 23 through Sunday, December 9, we offer a Gift Card Gift-With-Purchase where Gift Card customers will receive a $10 Gift Card with the purchase of a $50 card, while supplies last. The SDDA has been offering this promotion for over ten years and it is very popular. The offer is available at The Beverley Cigar Store at 106 E. Beverley Street and at The Clock tower Restaurant and Bar at 27 W. Beverley Street. This promotion is sponsored by Hammond Insurance, coming soon to 5 East Beverley Street.

First Two Hours Free Parking

To make shopping easy, the City of Staunton offers the First Two Hours Free Parking at the Wharf Lot and the New Street Garage, Friday, November 23 through December 20.

Small Business Saturday

Feel-good shopping is so easy when you shop small on Saturday, November 24. Most businesses participate and shoppers can enjoy a relaxed shopping experience with special holiday activities and strolling carolers.

The first event was sponsored by American Express, in partnership with the non-profit National Trust for Historic Preservation (Main Street) in 2010. It is a counterpart to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, which feature big box retail and e-commerce stores respectively. By contrast, Small Business Saturday encourages holiday shoppers to patronize brick and mortar businesses that are small and local. Each year, the Staunton City Council issues a proclamation to encourage the community to shop locally.

The SDDA has been organizing a Small Business Saturday event since 2011. 2018 offers and participating stores may be found here. Small Business Saturday is sponsored by City National Bank, MIX 93.1, Bankers Insurance and Loudoun Mutual Insurance. Go to LingoNetworks.net/livestream to see Small Business Saturday live.

Staunton’s “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” Parade

The Parade takes place on Friday, November 26 at 7PM. There is an inclement weather date of Monday, December 3. This annual community event is over 50 years old and going strong. The parade is organized by the SDDA but the hard work is done by volunteers from the Staunton Kiwanis Club who approves the line-up, marks the streets and marshals the parade by keeping all of the entries in order and on schedule. Go to LingoNetworks.net/livestream to see the “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” Parade live.

The parade has all of your favorites including marching bands, elaborate floats, beauty queens, fire engines, vintage motorcycles and cars, horses and best of all…Santa arrives on a float provided by ShenanArts and sponsored by Hammond Insurance and WHSV-TV3. Refreshments for the Kiwanis and the parade judges are donated by The Pampered Palate.

The Parade Route begins at the corner of Augusta and Frederick Street, follows Frederick Street East to Market Street, turns right onto Market Street and then onto Beverley Street going West toward Lewis. Parade goers are advised to use the Johnson Street corridor to enter Downtown as the other entrances will be blocked for the Parade line up. Free parking will be available in the New Street Garage and the Wharf Lot.

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